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upheld。〃
〃Brother sacrist；〃 said the Abbot angrily； 〃methinks you show
overmuch zeal in this case； and certes； we are well able to uphold
the dignity and honor of the Abbey court without any rede of
thine。 As to you； worthy summoner； you will give your opinion
when we crave for it； and not before； or you may yourself get some
touch of the power of our tribunal。 But your case hath been
tried； Squire Loring； and judgment given。 I have no more to say。〃
He motioned with his hand； and an archer laid his grip upon the
shoulder of the prisoner。 But that rough plebeian touch woke
every passion of revolt in Nigel's spirit。 Of all his high line
of ancestors； was there one who had been subjected to such
ignominy as this？ Would they not have preferred death？ And
should he be the first to lower their spirit or their traditions？
With a quick； lithe movement； he slipped under the arm of the
archer； and plucked the short； straight sword from the soldier's
side as he did so。 The next instant he had wedged himself into
the recess of one of the narrow windows； and there were his pale
set face； his burning eyes； and his ready blade turned upon the
assembly。
〃By Saint Paul！〃 said he； 〃I never thought to find honorable
advancement under the roof of an abbey； but perchance there may；
be some room for it ere you hale me to your prison。〃
The chapter…house was in an uproar。 Never in the long and
decorous history of the Abbey had such a scene been witnessed
within its walls。 The monks themselves seemed for an instant to
be infected by this spirit of daring revolt。 Their own lifelong
fetters hung more loosely as they viewed this unheard…of defiance
of authority。 They broke from their seats on either side and
huddled half…scared； half…fascinated； in a large half…circle round
the defiant captive； chattering； pointing； grimacing； a scandal
for all time。 Scourges should fall and penance be done for many a
long week before the shadow of that day should pass from Waverley。
But meanwhile there was no effort to bring them back to their
rule。 Everything was chaos and disorder。 The Abbot had left his
seat of justice and hurried angrily forward； to be engulfed and
hustled in the crowd of his own monks like a sheep…dog who finds
himself entangled amid a flock。
Only the sacrist stood clear。 He had taken shelter behind the
half…dozen archers； who looked with some approval and a good deal
of indecision at this bold fugitive from justice。
〃On him！〃 cried the sacrist。 〃Shall he defy the authority of the
court； or shall one man hold six of you at bay？ Close in upon him
and seize him。 You； Baddlesmere； why do you hold back？〃
The man in question； a tall bushy…bearded fellow； clad like the
others in green jerkin and breeches with high brown boots；
advanced slowly； sword in hand； against Nigel。 His heart was not
in the business； for these clerical courts were not popular； and
everyone had a tender heart for the fallen fortunes of the house
of Loring and wished well to its young heir。
〃Come； young sir； you have caused scathe enough；〃 said he。 〃Stand
forth and give yourself up！〃
〃Come and fetch me； good fellow；〃 said Nigel； with a dangerous
smile。
The archer ran in。 There was a rasp of steel； a blade flickered
like a swift dart of flame； and the man staggered back； with blood
running down his forearm and dripping from his fingers。 He wrung
them and growled a Saxon oath。
〃By the black rood of Bromeholm！〃 he cried； 〃I had as soon put my
hand down a fox's earth to drag up a vixen from her cubs。〃
〃Standoff！〃 said Nigel curtly。 〃I would not hurt you； but by
Saint Paul！ I will not be handled； or some one will be hurt in
the handling。〃
So fierce was his eye and so menacing his blade as he crouched in
the narrow bay of the window that the little knot of archers were
at a loss what to do。 The Abbot had forced his way through the
crowd and stood； purple with outraged dignity； at their side。
〃He is outside the law；〃 said he。 〃He hath shed blood in a court
of justice； and for such a sin there is no forgiveness。 I will
not have my court so flouted and set at naught。 He who draws the
sword； by the sword also let him perish。 Forester Hugh lay a
shaft to your bow！〃
The man； who was one of the Abbey's lay servants； put his weight
upon his long bow and slipped the loose end of the string into the
upper notch。 Then； drawing one of the terrible three…foot arrows；
steel…tipped and gaudily winged； from his waist； he laid it to the
string。
〃Now draw your bow and hold it ready！〃 cried the furious Abbot。
〃Squire Nigel； it is not for Holy Church to shed blood； but there
is naught but violence which will prevail against the violent； and
on your head be the sin。 Cast down the sword which you hold in
your hand！〃
〃Will you give me freedom to leave your Abbey？〃
〃When you have abided your sentence and purged your sin。〃
〃Then I had rather die where I stand than give up my sword。〃
A dangerous flame lit in the Abbot's eyes。 He came of a fighting
Norman stock； like so many of those fierce prelates who； bearing a
mace lest they should be guilty of effusion of blood； led their
troops into battle； ever remembering that it was one of their own
cloth and dignity who； crosier in hand； had turned the long…drawn
bloody day of Hastings。 The soft accent of the churchman was gone
and it was the hard voice of a soldier which said …
〃One minute I give you； and no more。 Then when I cry 'Loose！'
drive me an arrow through his body。〃
The shaft was fitted； the bow was bent； and the stern eyes of the
woodman were fixed on his mark。 Slowly the minute passed； while
Nigel breathed a prayer to his three soldier saints； not that they
should save his body in this life； but that they should have a
kindly care for his soul in the next。 Some thought of a fierce
wildcat sally crossed his mind； but once out of his corner he was
lost indeed。 Yet at the last he would have rushed among his
enemies； and his body was bent for the spring； when with a deep
sonorous hum； like a breaking harp…string； the cord of the bow was
cloven in twain； and the arrow tinkled upon the tiled floor。 At
the same moment a young curly…headed bowman； whose broad shoulders
and deep chest told of immense strength； as clearly as his frank；
laughing face and honest hazel eyes did of good humor and courage；
sprang forward sword in hand and took his place by Nigel's side。
〃Nay； comrades！〃 said he。 〃Samkin Aylward cannot stand by and see
a gallant man shot down like a bull at the end of a baiting。 Five
against one is long odds； but two against four is better； and by
my finger…bones！ Squire Nigel and I leave this room together； be
it on our feet or no。〃
The formidable appearance of this ally and his high reputation
among his fellows gave a further chill to the lukewarm ardor of
the attack。 Aylward's left arm was passed through his strung bow；
and he was known from Woolmer Forest to the Weald as the quickest；
surest archer that ever dropped a running deer at tenscore paces。
〃Nay； Baddlesmere； hold your fingers from your string…case； or I
may chance to give your drawing hand a two months' rest；〃 said
Aylward。 〃Swords； if you will； comrades； but no man strings his
bow till I have loosed mine。〃
Yet the angry hearts of both Abbot and sacrist rose higher with a
fresh obstacle。
〃This is an ill day for your father； Franklin Aylward； who holds
the tenancy of Crooksbury；〃 said the sacrist。 〃He will rue it
that ever he begot a son who will lose him his acres and his
steading。〃
〃My father is a bold yeoman； and would rue it evermore that ever
his son should stand by while foul work was afoot；〃 said Aylward
stoutly。 〃Fall on； comrades！ We are waiting。〃
Encouraged by promises of reward if they should fall in the
service of the Abbey； and by threats of penalties if they should
hold back； the four archers were about to close； when a singular
interruption gave an entirely new turn to the proceedings。
At the door of the chapter…house； while these fiery doings had
been afoot； there had assembled a mixed crowd of lay brothers；
servants and varlets who had watched the development of the drama
with the interest and delight with which men hail a sudden break
in a dull routine。 Suddenly there was an agitation at the back of
this group； then a swirl in the center； and finally the front rank
was violently thrust aside； and through the gap there emerged a
strange and whimsical figure； who from the instant of his
appearance dominated both chapter…house and Abbey； monks； prelates
and archers； as if he were their owner and their master。
He was a man somewhat above middle age； with thin lemon…colored
hair； a curling mustache； a tufted chin of the same hue； and a
high craggy face； all running to a great hook of the nose； like
the beak of an eagle。 His skin was tanned a brown…red by much
exposure to the wind and sun。 In height he was tall； and his
figure was thin and loose…jointed； but stringy and hard…bitten。
One eye was entirely covered by its lid； which lay flat over an
empty socket； but the other danced and sparkled with a most
roguish light； darting here and